Why is head lice so hard to recognize?

Unfortunately detecting head lice is extremely difficult and very few cases are as obvious as this to recognize.

Contracting head lice after vacations and breaks from school is very common.

This article is going to focus on how to detect head lice on you and your family. While LouseCalls, LLC offers house calls as well as clinic services, it may not always be feasible to enlist in professional services.

So let’s get to it: How can you recognize head lice?

Itching on the scalp, neck or behind the ears. The itchy feeling mimics that of mosquito bites. It actually feels like you may have mosquito bites on your scalp, behind your ears or on your neck. Here is the downfall for using only this method to determine the presence of head lice-not everyone has an allergic reaction to the saliva that is left behind from a lice bite. Similar to mosquito bites, not everyone feels the itch from the bite.

Red bumps, rash or the appearance of “bites” on the back of the neck or behind the ears is another huge sign of head lice. Lice bugs tend to hang out and feed on the back of the neck and behind the ears. This leaves visible red bumps and/or a red rash-thus very visible when looking for this sign.

Of course the appearance of bugs or eggs (nits) in the hair is a definite sign of head lice. This task is much easier said than done. There are a few reasons why this is so difficult to detect. Lice eggs are often the same color of the hair, so they are camouflaged. Bugs are usually even harder to see as they shy away from the light. However, if someone has a very infestation of head lice, often you may see movement and eggs that appear iridescent or “white” in the hair. A true test if you suspect a lice egg is too remove it and put it against white paper and it will pop out as brown and oval.

Get a lice comb!

LouseCalls-Terminator-Comb-sizedUse it by combing against the scalp, sprinkle it over plain white paper. Look what pops out on the paper. If there is lice in the head, you will see bugs or eggs on the white paper. Send us a photo at LouseCalls. You can text, email it or compare it to photos on our website.

If you decide to use a professional service for all your lice removal needs, LouseCalls has been helping families for 18 years. We take pride in our excellent customer service and meticulous removal of head lice whether a house call or clinic location. We stand behind our services and are available 7 days a week to help you.

Please contact us anytime for Lice help in South Florida, Central Florida, Tampa and Miami Date. You can email at Amy@lousecalls.com or text 561-376-1066.

Amy and Lara